SUPERNATURAL SUNDAY

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

I've talked about my guest blogger's special "trick or treat" for you all week long and it's finally here! There are giveaways for comments and the prizes are:

Kelly Abell will be giving away an e-copy of Haunted Destiny
Marissa Farrar will be giving away an e-copy of Alone.
Rie McGaha will be giving away a Closure writing tablet.
A $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card is up for grabs.
A pink/flower book cover (this is intended to protect paperback books).

(Unfortunately, due to the cost of postage, if you're outside the United States, please be aware that when you enter the contest you are only entering to win one of the e-books.)


Here's what the guest bloggers wrote for you:

The harvest moon shimmered bright behind thick billowing clouds. Shadows hung within shadows along the roadway. The hair on Beth's arms stood up, her feet snapping quickly against pavement, berating herself for not checking the gas gauge. A twig snapped.

Beth spun around fear grabbing her heart in a vise. She could sense him rather than see him. She reached out with her mind to find what might be out among the shadows. His thoughts were far from violent but they are intense. He was hunting, but not for food.

His desire was a potent scent and it pulled her in. What was wrong with her? She should be terrified in her situation, in the dead of night, but here she was enthralled by a stranger. When he stepped out of the shadows, highlighted by the glow of the moon, she knew her fate was sealed.

Blood coated the front of his jacket, smeared his sleeves. But this was not the first thing she noticed. Instead it was the strange yellow pupils that watched her so intently, and, as he opened his mouth to speak, she saw a set of teeth that should not belong in the head of any man – even one as striking as this.

"You shouldn't be here." Her teeth chattered together like mariachis as he took a step forward with muddy bare feet showing at the hem of his torn jeans. Her heart pounded wildly against her ribs threatening to explode from her chest. "I…my car…gas." His brow raised as humor pulled at the corner of his lips.

Beth stepped away, her back hitting the cold wall. No escape. He moved closer, his potent scent sending her sex drive into overload. She bit her bottom lip and lifted her chin to meet his gaze. His bloodstained tongue swept across his fangs. A low growl rumbled from his chest.

She shouldn't feel this way, she knew. She should scream. Or run. Fight back. But she didn't. Couldn't. His mouth was only a breath away and her tongue snaked out, moistening her lips. Then his lips met hers. Warm and wet. Her heart pounded in her ears as she felt her body melting, glad for the wall behind her and his body before her.

Beth didn’t think about the blood, ignored the metallic scent and concentrated on his hard, muscled chest. Any moment now she’d be his next victim. Pulse pounding, a tingling sensation began in her nose and she pulled away seconds before the sneeze overtook her. Desperate to recapture the embrace, she turned her head only to see the familiar faces of the guests at the Halloween party. Her heart prickled with disappointment that the intense longing had been fantasy, yet… Her gaze met that of a yellow-eyed wolfman across the room. As he approached her with determined steps, a wash of heat coursed through her, tingling in all the right places. Time to make a little Halloween magic of her own. Who said fantasies had to stay in daydreams?


I hope you enjoyed their combined story! Each paragraph was written by a different guest blogger. Now, just for fun, it's your job to tell me who you "think" wrote each paragraph. On November 1st, I'll draw winners and announce which authors wrote which paragraphs so you can see how close you were to getting it right! Winners will be drawn at random and NOT because of correctness of guessing which authors wrote which paragraphs.

The contributing bloggers are as follows:

Gracen Miller (me, of course)
Stacey Espino
Kelly Abell
Marissa Farrar
Sandra Sookoo
H.C. Brown
Rie McGaha
Cherie De Sues

PHANTASM FRIDAY

Trick or treat,
Smell my feet
Give me something good to eat!

I've mentioned on Halloween—this Sunday!—my guest bloggers have worked on a "treat" for you!!! But maybe it's a little bit of a trick too! ;-) You'll have to return on Sunday to find out. Oh, and did I mention we're giving away prizes? Yes, that's right...prizes!! So far, this is the list of what we'll be giving away:

Kelly Abell will be giving away an e-copy of Haunted Destiny
Marissa Farrar will be giving away an e-copy of Alone
Rie McGaha will be giving away a Closure writing tablet
A $10 Barnes and Noble Gift Card is up for grabs
A pink/flower book cover (this is intended to protect paperback books)

~(If you missed Kelly, Marissa or Rie's blog, click on their names and it'll take you to their guest post so you can learn more about their e-books!)~

So, mark your calendars to come back here for a different kind of "trick or treat" on Sunday. If you RSVP to this post today ONLY, I'll give you an extra entry for Sunday! The RSVP MUST be posted by midnight CST! But be sure to come back on Sunday for MORE entries!

Good luck to all those that enter! And Happy Halloween!!

~huggles~

Gracen

Twilight Thursday

Please welcome multi-published author, Sandra Sookoo! To read prior interviews with Sandra here in the moonlight, visit HERE and HERE.


GRACEN: Do you have a movie that you must watch every Halloween? What's your favorite scary movie? Do you have a favorite scary character or character type?

SANDRA: I do but I’m not real big into the scary stuff. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to horror LOL I always watch Practical Magic, Sleepy Hollow, Hocus Pocus and The Corpse Bride


GRACEN: Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what will you be dressed up as this year? What was your all-time most favorite costume that you ever wore? Why?

SANDRA: I haven’t dressed up for Halloween in years…unless you’re asking about sexy costumes for the hubby, but we won’t go there… My favorite costume? Probably a bag lady because I wore these really dorky striped knee socks LOL


GRACEN: Are you superstitious? Do you find yourself knocking on wood or throwing salt over your shoulder? If not one of these two, what is your superstition?

SANDRA: Not a bit. Although I think it’s beyond cool if I get all green lights on my way to somewhere.


GRACEN: Do you believe in ghosts? If so, have you ever had a ghostly encounter and tell us about it?

SANDRA: I do think there are ghosts among us. There have been times when I’ve been woken from a sound sleep by whispered voices and then there was that whole pantry fiasco a couple of weeks ago. Long story…


GRACEN: Tell us 3 funny or strange things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Halloweens?

SANDRA: Once when I was in my teens, some friends dragged me to a “haunted” wood. When a scary character jumped out at me, I reacted by shoving him. He fell into a creek. That’s about it. I’m more the type to stay home and hand out the candy, since I’m a big scardey cat.


GRACEN: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?

SANDRA: Oooh, tough question! I like the idea of werewolves, but getting furry once a month just doesn’t appeal. I have enough trouble keeping the legs shaved regularly LOL A vampire? Not so much. Living forever? Enough already! LOL Maybe a ghost, as long as I didn’t have to go through centuries needing to right a wrong…Oh, wait, that’s the kind of stories I like to write. Hmm. This question needs more thought!


GRACEN: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy, but e-pirates are not. How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

SANDRA! Well, I’d say to e-pirates, shame on you! You’re stealing, no bones about it. What would your grandmother say?

When my work is pirated, I sent the take down notices, but in all honesty, this doesn’t help. It goes right back up. And here’s the truth, you can’t stop them until Congress passes laws. It happens and you pretty much just need to consider it free promotion. You can’t make yourself crazy about worrying over it.


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Sandra…Why the paranormal genre? What was the draw for you?

SANDRA: Well, the glory of writing in the paranormal world is the very other-worldly aspect of it! There’s a certain mystery, a collection of secrets that go along with being not quite normal. It brings an added conflict to the storyline.


GRACEN: If you could describe your paranormal writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and look beyond words like vampire, werewolf, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

SANDRA: Acceptance often goes beyond human understanding.


GRACEN: Do you prefer playing tricks on people or bestowing treats? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

SANDRA: LOL Well there’s a fine line, I’d say. Because I’m a huge baker, that oftentimes bleeds into my stories. On the other hand, I’m a very funny person so that transfers as well.


GRACEN: Who decides what creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one stirring the cauldron?

SANDRA: I usually decide on the creature then I turn it over to the Muse. Depending on her mood, the story will be sweet or loaded with heat. I’ve decided I’m fine with that because it brings something for everyone.


GRACEN: What was the creature/paranormal character that you had the most fun creating and why? Who—to you—was the sexiest character you wrote and why?

SANDRA: Hmm, the most fun? Hands down Gregg the tax auditor demon in Demons & Stilettos. Oh but then there’s Hannah from The Art of Fang Shui. She was all kinds of fun and kind of a pain! Sexiest character? That’s a hard one, too. Xavier the werewolf from Vegetarian at Midnight or Ethan from Angel’s Master. He’s not a paranormal but he is a pirate…


GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

SANDRA: Oh wow, let’s see. I’d love to meet Edwin from Fang Shui. He’s very interesting. Or maybe the Bernhart brothers from my Holiday Magic series. Now there’s a couple of interesting men… Which one would I never want to meet? Hmm… Gregg from Demons and Stilettos. I don’t think I could survive him…


GRACEN: Thanks for joining us today, Sandra! It's always a pleasure to have you with us!

Blurb and excerpt for Changing Tides (a Strange Hollow tale):

Blurb:
Born of water. Neadra is an Undine, yet the thought of being in any body of water besides her bathtub terrifies her. In Strange Hollow, she lives on the side a the mountain, content and out of harm’s way, even as she yearns to be understood for her fears and loved in spite of them.

Drawn to water. Caelan, a water dragon from the wilds of Ireland, has been shunned by his clan for his inability to shift and terrorize. Lonely for too long, he meets Neadra one moonlit night and becomes enchanted by her kindness and her unique beauty, but how could anyone love him if he has no heroic ability whatsoever?

Threatened by water. When late spring rains, coupled with warm temperatures, melt much of the snow pack on Mt. Mitchell, a flood sweeps through the outskirts of Strange Hollow, putting Neadra’s life in danger. Caelan fights his way to get to her, pulling out the hero he never thought he could be while she, in turn, works through her fears to find him. Only through acceptance of the world around them and of each other will they find the life they’ve always wanted.

Excerpt:

Neadra sighed and dipped her feet a bit deeper into the chilly water. She perched at the very edge of Shady Lake, alone with only the moon and the lake for company. The romance of the area wasn’t lost on her.

A thick wood line shrouded the far side of the lake, serving as a barrier between the business end of Strange Hollow and the small network of farms and homes of the flatlands. She’d heard that any resident wishing to buy property in the outlying areas must be prepared to defend said real estate against interlopers who didn’t hold true with the laws of the town. Every homeowner outside the downtown area received two acres of land along with their house with specific instructions not to sub-let the acreage.

It seemed the founder of Strange Hollow didn’t want the beauty of the town marred by endless subdivisions, fast food joints and strip malls. Working alongside nature. As it should be.

Slowly wriggling her toes, she stared at the dark stretch of water. So much potential. So much fear. She pulled her long skirt up her legs and slid forward until the water lapped over her calves.

I can’t do this.

Ignoring the task at hand, Neadra let her mind ponder her state of singleness. Since she’d been a very little girl it had been drilled into her that water sprites only mated within their species. What happened to a woman who, by necessity, had to live away from her community and family? Because of her fear, she’d been forced to make her home in a tool shed near the sea, much to the derision of her family.

It also meant she appeared damaged and broken in the eyes of potential mate material. Not to mention, she lacked the gills inherent to her species, making living on land essential. She was decidedly too odd to fit into the aquatic community.

She blew out a shaky breath. Time marched on while her biological clock ticked down the years, bringing panic with it. In two months, she’d pass her thirty-first birthday, not young anymore and nearing the danger zone on the reproductive scale.

My life is so messed up.

Watching the moon’s reflection on the lake surface, two glowing blue objects caught her attention. Neadra narrowed her eyes, straining forward. It was too early in the season for amphibian life and the orbs were too large to belong to a snake or fish. In the space of a heartbeat, they vanished. Relief swept through her body. She didn’t want to encounter some of the more fierce wildlife rumored to live around the mountain.

As suddenly as they disappeared, the blue objects came back into view, almost staring at her with weird, electric light. She shivered and pulled her feet beneath her, out of the water. Were they eyes? How was it possible? If an Undine didn’t want to be seen, no one except another water sprite could see them--unless she failed at the camouflage aspect of her culture as well. She’d never had an opportunity to test the theory.

The eyes came closer, confirming the fact the objects belonged to something. Her pulse steadily increased until it drummed out a frantic rhythm. Too fascinated to move, she watched as it closed the distance, only ten feet from the shore and her.

Threads of nameless anticipation slid over her skin, invoking goose bumps, but she felt no fear. Five feet of dark water separated her from whatever lurked beneath the surface. Her throat went dry as she wondered what kind of being it was.

With the smooth movements of someone accustomed to spending time in and around water, the placid scene shimmered. The top of a male head appeared, bobbed for an instant, his gaze never breaking eye contact with her, and he swam forward. The closer he got, the more of his body was revealed until he stood, dripping, on the shore near her.

For a few seconds, Neadra forgot how to breathe as she stared at the naked form of the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. She gasped and realized beautiful was not nearly an appropriate way to describe this particular male. He was at least six feet tall, and she had to tip her head back in order to properly take him all in. Black, coarse hair sprinkled his winter-pale skin, and as he lifted his hands to slick his thick, black hair from his face, the muscles in his broad chest rippled.

Unable to breathe without sounding like a dog in heat, Neadra licked her lips as her gaze moved from his clean-shaven, square jaw, over wide shoulders, thick from daily gym visits or hard labor, and down along his torso, following the sensual black ribbon of hair past washboard abs to his partially rampant arousal.

“Wow.” She’d barely forced the word out when her sex contracted with a strong aching need and she had to squeeze her thighs together to stave off the sensations. Quickly snapping her gaze to his face, she sought to distract herself from his body--except his brilliant eyes caused havoc with her insides. She felt an insane desire to trace the strong lines of his face, run her fingers over his jaw, and feel his lips against hers. “Wow.”

The man smiled. The ordinary action lit his face into a softer version, twinkling his eyes and causing gentle creases to appear at the sides of his mouth and across his forehead, as if he indulged in grinning often. “It’s not often I get such a reaction from the ladies, especially not one as pretty as you. I’m Caelan Burke.”

Neadra melted a tiny bit further at the slight Irish accent in his baritone voice. “Hi.” At a disadvantage from her position on the ground, not to mention the tempting distraction of his naughty bits at eye level, she struggled to her feet. The small pebbles that made up the shore cut into the soles, but she barely noticed as she held out her hand. “My name is Neadra.”

When she moved forward to shake the hand he offered, her toes tangled into the hem of her long skirt and she stumbled, taking a few unsteady steps backward and teetering into the lake with a resounding splash.

Publisher’s website: http://www.liquidsilverbooks.com/
Strange Hollow site: http://www.strangehollow.com/
Book trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9D_rDgGd8xA
Author’s website: http://sandrasookoo.com/. From here you’ll find links to me on Twitter, Facebook and my blogs.

DON'T FORGET...Return on Halloween for a special treat the guest bloggers have worked on for YOU!! There will be prizes given away, so be sure to join us here in the moonlight on Halloween!

Wistful Wednesday

Interview with Chuck Sambuchino,

Author of How to Survive a Garden Gnome Attack

I have a special treat for you today. Recently, I was fortunate to read the new book (see below for my thoughts) by and interview author Chuck Sambuchino. If that name sounds familiar to you, it should. Chuck is works for Writer's Digest and edits GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS (http://www.guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog/). So without further ado, here's my interview with Chuck:

1.When did you first realize there was such a problem with gnomes? What was your first clue?

I was attacked by a vicious gnome as a youngster, though I can’t share the details with you, as it still too frightening to relive. I will tell you that once I was let out of the hospital, with a small scar as my reminder of gnome violence, I was a changed person. Finally, I have written a definitive guide for people to protect themselves. 

2. This book, though slim, is very well researched. How long did it take you to do the research and compile it into a book?

The book took several months to write, but I’ve been essentially researching it my entire life. Having the ability to smash a vicious garden gnome to smithereens with a sledgehammer or baseball bat takes years of practice, so indeed I have practiced — and many gnomes have been on the receiving end of my practicing. 

3. Have you ever had to face the gnomes yourself? If so, please feel free to share your story with our readers.


I already mentioned my childhood encounters, but let me say that it has been many a moon since I faced a gnome in combat. Word got out quickly that I was skilled with a snow shovel. Once word spread, gnomes realized it was easier to attack the old lady down the street rather than me. I am always on guard. People think that I still fight gnomes in close quarters, but those days have passed. Now I just educate people and spread the word. 




4. What do you want your readers to take away from this book?


That garden gnomes are not cute travel companions, despite what their gigantic PR campaign has tried to make you believe. They are dangerous lawn warriors who are responsible for almost 1,000 deaths over the years.  It’s madness, I tell you, madness. This book is designed to help people assess if they’re in danger, help people gnome-proof their residence, and help people combat a gnome in close quarters should an attack occur. 




5. Is there anything else you would like to add?


Just that the book makes a great Christmas gift for any friends or relatives who garden. You can find it in any major bookstore nationwide or on Amazon. Protect yourself at all costs! http://www.amazon.com/How-Survive-Garden-Gnome-Attack/dp/158008463X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1264039722&sr=1-6

Thank you for joining us today, Chuck, and sharing your wisdom with us. I will never look at the Travelocity gnome the same way again!



Bio:

Chuck Sambuchino is an editor and a writer. He works for Writer's Digest Books and edits GUIDE TO LITERARY AGENTS (guidetoliteraryagents.com/blog) as well as CHILDREN'S WRITER'S & ILLUSTRATOR'S MARKET. His humor book, HOW TO SURVIVE A GARDEN GNOME ATTACK (gnomeattack.com), was released in Sept. 2010 and has been featured by Reader's Digest and AOL News. Besides that, he is a produced playwright, magazine freelancer, husband, cover band guitarist, chocolate chip cookie fiend, and owner of a flabby-yet-lovable dog named Graham.




What I thought: I really enjoyed this book. Though short by today's standards, it is packed with content from the first page to the last - a quick, delightful read. Mr. Sambuchino writes with an ease and authority that makes you forget that you are reading a humor book. Soon, you will be having visions of gnome attacks and will be thinking about putting his tips to work for you. This is a great little book and I am so happy that I had the chance to read it. For that, I want to thank Chuck for providing the review copy for me.

Tantalizing Tuesday

Please welcome H.C. Brown into the moonlight. H.C. is the author of numerous books. Check out her blogspot to learn more. Now, grab a cup of your favorite brew, sit back, relax and enjoy getting to know H.C.!

GRACEN: Do you have a movie that you must watch every Halloween? What's your favorite scary movie? Do you have a favorite scary character or character type?

H.C.: Halloween of course and you can’t go past Jason.


GRACEN: Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what will you be dressed up as this year? What was your all-time most favorite costume that you ever wore? Why?

H.C.: We don’t celebrate Halloween in Australia, well not the same as you do. For me it’s All Hallows.


GRACEN: Are you superstitious? Do you find yourself knocking on wood or throwing salt over your shoulder? If not one of these two, what is your superstition?

H.C.: All of the above and more. I won’t mix red and white flowers in the same bunch as they are bad luck. Love black cats though.


GRACEN: Do you believe in ghosts? If so, have you ever had a ghostly encounter and tell us about it?

H.C.: Yes, I believe in ghosts. As most people, the first time I thought I was imagining things. The house I lived in at the time was old. I would see a man in a check shirt with blond hair waiting at the foot of the stairs. I never mentioned it to anyone, then my daughter asked me if I had ever seen a man standing at the bottom of the stairs. Later, I discovered both my boys had seen him too. He wasn’t scary. I felt sorry for him to be honest. To answer your next question, no he didn’t communicate with any of us. I doubt he knew we existed.


GRACEN: Tell us 3 funny or strange things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Halloweens?

H.C.: I have only one strange thing. We light candles on All Hallows to ward off evil spirits. One Halloween with all the doors and windows closed, all the candles went out at the same instant.


GRACEN: If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?

H.C.: A faerie. Well mainly because in my books they have all the fun. =)
Then I could put a spell on all the e-pirates—if it ever happens watch, out trust me bits of you will fall off.


GRACEN: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy, but e-pirates are not. How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

H.C.: It makes me want to quit writing.
To those who steal from me I would like to say.
E Authors offer their readers great stories at a very small price. We work VERY hard to write stories and then you steal from us. Do you think we make hundreds of dollars?— Well we don’t. You say you love our books well PAY for them and support us. I put out a book for 99c and you were too mean to pay for that, you had to steal it as well. This problem will be resolved and I hope the governments of your countries put you all in prison.

AND To those lovely people who buy my books I say, know that I write only for you and I wish you all good health and happiness. =)


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, H.C….Why the paranormal genre? What was the draw for you?

H.C.: Paranormal and fantasy gives me the freedom to go where I want in my writing. I want to build fantastic worlds and take my readers with me. I like to make my hero different from real life— a man we can all dream about.


GRACEN: If you could describe your paranormal writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and look beyond words like vampire, werewolf, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

H.C.: Always leave the reader wanting more.


GRACEN: Do you prefer playing tricks on people or bestowing treats? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

H.C.: I’m a giver. I get great pleasure out of giving, if it’s my time or my expertise or by giving a gift. I hope I give my readers a warm glow.


GRACEN: Who decides what creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one stirring the cauldron?

H.C.: The Muse and dreams. I dream a lot of my characters and then the Muse give them substance. They are all, VERY real to me.


GRACEN: What was the creature/paranormal character that you had the most fun creating and why? Who—to you—was the sexiest character you wrote and why?

H.C.: Nox, the king of the Fae from the Pride Brothers and The Chronicles of Fae series is a very sexy faerie. I saw a delicious man across a crowded room that oozed so much sex appeal that one look gave me Nox. Of course, Nox is entirely fiction but as most authors there is always a trigger and that stranger was all I needed.


GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

H.C.: I would love to meet Dare from Purr-fect Seduction. He was my first shape shifter and lived in my head for about three years. I’d like to say, ‘thanks’.
I’d hate to run into a Ram, any of them. They take females for sex slaves—say no more.


H.C- Bite Here, Too is due for release on 26 October. It is a Halloween themed anthology with Stormy Glenn. http://www.nobleromance.com/

BLURB:
Enslaved by H.C. Brown
At midnight on All Hallows Eve, the Gates between the realms are wide open. Good and evil in equal measure seek to slake their desire. Be careful for what you wish for Humans, once the Gates shut, there is no going back.

Blood Sacrifice by Stormy Glenn
Being a demon isn't always fun. Being a demon summoned to a satanic ritual is downright miserable. Isaac Braden spends most of his time being a rich recluse but every so often he's introduced to someone new when he's summoned… a blood sacrifice. And tonight Jory Daniels has been chosen to be that sacrifice.

In a satanic ritual summoning gone bad, Isaac finds himself eternally bound to Jory. He has to have the man's blood in order to survive. But when Jory wants something in return, can Isaac submit enough to allow it or will his demon nature take over and cause him to lose the best thing that ever happened to him?

H.C. – Thanks for having me today.

GRACEN: Wow, both of those sound like fantastic, exciting reads! Just in case any of you readers missed it, here's the LINK once more to buy this fascinating book. Thanks for joining us, H.C. It's always a pleasure to have you with us. Best of success with all your releases!

A reminder to all readers, check back on Sunday, October 31st, to view the surprise all of our guest bloggers have worked on so hard for YOU!!! It's our Halloween gift to YOU!!!

Starlight Saturday

MY NEW BOOK COVER!!!!

BLURB:

Where does the road to Hell begin?

What happens when your son turns homicidal overnight, killing the family cat before gutting the family dog? Do you cower in fear or fight for your life? Madison Wescott fights against the odds. Distrustful of a God she doesn't believe in, she finds herself face-to-face with a demonic world she didn't know existed and discovers her own soul is darkened with demonic connections.

With good intentions?

Madison had it all…or thought she did. A husband she adored and a son that brought joy to her life. Then one morning her husband kissed her goodbye, headed off to work and disappeared. Life turned upside down, Madison grows desperate and despondent to help her bloodthirsty son after numerous attempts have failed. Only one man dares to challenge the supernatural forces manipulating them.

Or by demonic design?

Phoenix Birmingham breaches her life in a whirlwind of sarcasm and sexual appeal. A hero for the masses—and for her jaded heart—but few will ever know the sacrifices he has made or the sacrifices to come. Discovering her entire life has been influenced by multifaceted paranormal beings, Madison is determined to defeat the apocalyptic blueprint fate has decreed. Even with Phoenix's aid, can destiny be denied? Or will demonic design prevail and they pay the crucial price with their souls?

In a small, sleepy Alabama town the battle for mankind's liberty has begun...

PHANTASM FRIDAY

Paranormal Bad Boys…

Do you love them? Hate them? Or have a love/hate relationship for them? I'm not talking about the "good" bad boys that are the heroes in romance books or movies. I'm talking about the real bad boys of those books or movies. I'm referring to the antagonist that brings the hero and heroine so much angst. The ones you love to hate, but are so sensual, sexy and irresistible, you find yourself cheering for them when you know they're evil! Some memorable evil bad boys for me are:

David in The Lost Boys, who was played by Keifer Sutherland, was a particularly bad boy vampire. I loved him! I wasn't into the "bad boy" hero, Michael, because he was really a "good boy" wanting to be a "bad boy". He lacked conviction and any heartfelt desire to want to be a bad boy. And he was only rebelling because he was upset his mother had relocated them from their friends. I've loved Keifer Sutherland ever since this part. David was sexy, evil, manipulative and, but oh, so easy on the eyes. And I was heartbroken when he was killed…*whimpers* Further complicating my devastation was that his death was unnecessary because he wasn't the master vampire!

Other "bad boys" I loved are Gary Oldman as Count Dracula in the 1992 version of Dracula. Step aside Jonathan Harker and hello, Dracula! Yum! I wanted Count Dracula to win in this movie too!

Another that must receive a mention is Lestat in Queen of the Damned. I read Anne Rice's vampire series and fell in love with Lestat. Lestat was moody, angsty, misunderstood, selfish and immature and I loved all of these flaws. Stuart Townsend did an admirable job—in my opinion anyway—of the character Anne Rice painted on the page.

I can't forget Damon from The Vampire Diaries either. I wouldn't even be watching that show without Damon. He's fun and quirky, brings a level of spice and entertainment to the show. He likes being a vampire and isn't angsty and whining about being one. Seriously, why do the chicks adore a whiny vampire? Who would want to listen to that for an eternity? Ugh! I love a vampire that embraces his/her inner darkness and enjoys being what they've become. So, quit whining already!!!!!!

My final love would be Nikolas, my heroine's ex-husband in Pandora's Box. Pandora's Box is the first book in my The Road to Hell Series that was just contracted with Decadent Publishing. Nikolas is a really evil bad boy and he makes no apologies for his demonic character. In fact, he has reasons for his attitude and he feels they're valid reasons. Nikolas makes demons look like puppy dog kisses and long walks on the beach. And I am so in love with him I don't want to get rid of him. Any girl would be crazy to love Nikolas once he shows his true colors, but he could charm the pants off anyone when he's not showing his inner demon.

So, that leaves me wondering why do I love Nikolas so much and why do I love bad boys in general? Is it because they bring an element of fun to the book or big screen? They keep things spicy? Maybe I love the bad boys because they make our heroes and heroines show their own "inner demon" in order to overcome whatever the bad boy is throwing at them. With Nikolas I can let boundaries drop when I'm writing and he can do anything and get away with it because he's the bad boy. That doesn't mean he gets the girl in the end…or maybe he will. That book is yet to be written…

So, who are some of the "bad boys" you loved, or loved to hate?

A special thanks to Rie McGaha for giving me the idea for this blog today!

Twilight Thursday

Please welcome author, Cherie De Sues, into the moonlight. Cherie has prepared a special treat for us about Halloween. Hope you enjoy!

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Pagan Pumpkins for Samhain…Halloween.

Samhain, pronounced (sow-in) is the ancient time on October 31st when the veil between the living and the dead is the thinnest. The new pagan wheel calendar has started and the Goddess' time has passed, the Greenman God has awakened for the winter months.

Not all ghosts are friendly or from your own family. Pagans carve gourds, squash and other late harvest fruits to appease the dead who search for Summerlands (Pagan heaven). The angry faces carved into the skin of a pumpkin or other gourds is to send away the evil spirits, the demons and negative energy from their door.

The candle on the inside of a pagan-carved pumpkin can be various colors that represent luck, passion or purity. Using a white candle is always safe and displaying your carved pumpkin on your doorstep will keep your home safe and free of spectral hauntings. If you do pick up a ghost or two on this night, here's a spell for ridding yourself of the pests. Use a pungent incense and black candles to ward them off.

The presence that stands upon the stairs
The unseen hands that move the chairs.
The lights that play across the wall,
The stains that stay, the plates that fall,
The mist, the chill, the wandering scents
This gentle spell must speed them hence.
At midnight, set a table neat,
With cup and plate, and wine and meat,
Invite the ghost to sit and feast,
As any host should urge a guest.
Presently, clear the meal away,
Then open the door and softly say-
"Quick or dead, thou art fed,
Cease to grieve and take thy leave"
Bid him depart but should he remain
Be calm, take heart and feast him again.

If you want to live with the spirits in your home, honor them with frankincense incense, candles and say this chant three times in a mirror with candles reflecting on your face.
Spirits of my home, you shall live,
In every chamber my light I give,
To every corner my breath I send,
This home I share you may attend.

If you enjoy paranormal suspense and ghosts, witches and gypsy's, read the first chapter of my new release. "The Seduction of Simone". Come visit Irish Gypsy's Parlor for pagan articles and first chapters of all my novels and novellas.

Blessings on Samhain,
Blessed Be,
Cherie De Sues
My Websites
http://www.cheriedesues.com/ Irish Gypsy's Parlor
http://www.cheriedesues2.com/ Main Author Website
Read first chapter and buy "The Seduction of Simone" at Noble Romance Publishing
https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=157

OR AMAZON
http://www.amazon.com/The-Seduction-of-Simone-ebook/dp/B00433TF5G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&m=AG56TWVU5XWC2&s=digital-text&qid=1287606040&sr=1-1



Seduction of Simone Blurb:

Simone Devereaux has inherited an estate on the Northern California coast after her Aunt Celeste meets with a sudden, mysterious death. The hot neighbor, Trent Grayson, insists Celeste was murdered, and wants to be more than the man-next-door. When clients arrive to pose for their nude portraits over the weekend, Simone realizes she's inherited more than an estate. Two randy poltergeists enter her dreams for a lusty menage, and a budding serial killer threatens her sanity.

Now her Wiccan mother and gypsy father are coming for a visit, just in time to watch Simone lose her heart . . . and possibly her life.

Read the first chapter here: https://www.nobleromance.com/ItemDisplay.aspx?i=157

Wistful Wednesday

Rie McGaha in the Moonlight!

Hello, today I am thrilled to shine the spotlight on Rie McGaha, who has a new book coming out called Closure. Enjoy!

People & Places by Rie McGaha

When asked where my inspiration for a story comes from, I used to reply, "The voices in my head tell me what to write." And that is still true to an extent today. The storyline, plot and general characterization comes from some place in my head. The fine-tuning, however, comes from people, places, and events both past and present. Sometimes my characters are purely imagination and sometimes they are a combination of people I know.

In Blood Line and the sequel, Ancient Blood, the hero and heroine Joshua and Jessie Kaine are a version of my husband and myself. The way they relate to one another, their love for one another are purely my husband and me. The reason I used the two of us in this book is because the story came from a dream my husband had. In real life he is a truck driver, I used to be a truck driver and we did drive together. As far as the becoming werewolves part—my husband is still waiting for that bite!

In the anthology Cocked & Fully Loaded, my story Outlaw is based on a real life incident that I took and wrapped in fiction. The outlaw in the story is a real person I know and someone I loved very much when I was younger. His name is Stephen, but I'll leave it at that! 

Sometimes stories come from being in a place I love, like Biloxi, Mississippi. My upcoming book One Good Man is a bbw set in Biloxi. I have always had a great love for the ocean but especially the Gulf Coast. From Destin, Florida to New Orleans, there's no better place on earth. But I have a special place in my heart for Biloxi because I lived there way back in the late '70's. That was before the floating gambling boats came and before the tourists. Biloxi was a laid back little town where you could walk along the beach at sunset, or fish off the pier, or eat at the White Cap restaurant. Change is inevitable but I prefer to remember the town as it was all those years ago when I was young.

Working in the justice system gave me an interesting perspective. I got to know quite a few individuals who are in prison and truly belong in prison. They are really nice guys but I don't want any of them to live next door to me. Hell, I don't want any of them to live in the same state! But they did give me fodder for a suspense/mystery set in Oklahoma City. In Deadly Dreams the bad guy, Lucius McKenna was a lot of fun to write. He's a serial killer but of course, not just your run-of-the-mill serial killer. Lucius is gorgeous, and women go with him willingly so he doesn't think he's doing anything wrong. 

My latest book, Closure is a serial killer mystery/suspense set in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Albuquerque is a beautiful city and I love the way they've decorated the over passes. Even though I am not a fan of the desert, the area surrounding Albuquerque appealed to me as a writer. There's plenty of places to hide a body, or in this book, to display a body. And my killer is artistic in the way they kill and leave the corpses. This story came from a singular event that actually happened, and from that event came the first "murder" in the book. As I was writing the first murder, I thought, "Hey, what a way to get rid of an ex." So the murders I committed were done to my ex's (only in the book, they are all hail and hearty). And the reasons behind the murders are actual events. The best part about writing this one was that I used my husband, Nathan, as a model for the murders. I had to make sure each one could actually be done—accuracy is so important—and who better to "murder" than the man I love? And Nathan is a little warped, so he helped me with some of the details and nuances that make the story extremely creepy.

Inspiration is all around me on a daily basis. I find myself packing things away in my mind like I pack away my Christmas decorations. They might be in a closet but they are always there for me to use when the time is right. I guess that's why I enjoy writing so much. I can use anything I might see, or people I might meet, or places I might go as part of a story. I can twist and turn each fact to suit my needs and whether it comes out even remotely resembling the original isn't a concern. It's all about the story and whether or not it I like the way it turns out. After all, I am my toughest critic.

Closure by Rie McGaha (blurb)

 High in the hills above Albuquerque, New Mexico Detective Zachariah Ellison arrives at the scene of a murder, and not just any murder, but one that definitely falls into the “gruesome” category even for a seasoned cop like Zach. When another body is found murdered in much the same fashion, Zach knows he’s got a serial killer on his hands, and to top it off he’s got an assistant district attorney hounding him about the case. As Zach tries to investigate the crimes while sidestepping nosey Amy Logan, a third body is found and Zach hasn’t a clue as to whom the perpetrator might be.

Amy Logan has worked hard to put herself through school and pay for law school on her own and now that she’s secured a position as assistant district attorney in Albuquerque, she’s determined to do everything she can to be the best prosecutor this office has ever seen. And as if luck was following her, she’s been assigned to the biggest homicide case the city has ever seen. The only problem she’s having is the homicide detective who’s leading the investigation—Zach Ellison.

EXCERPT FROM: CLOSURE Champagne Books

"Zach, the body just arrived down here. Thought you'd want to be here for the autopsy," Pete said when Zach answered.

"On my way." He put the phone on the base, and then picked it up again. If Amy wanted information on the case, he'd just give it to her. He dialed the number from the card she'd left him, waited for the automated service, then punched in the extension.

“Amy? Zach here. The body just came in to the morgue. I'm going down—want to join me?” He looked at the phone in his hand and grinned. Amy hadn't even bothered to hang up on her end before he'd heard the door of her office slam.

Taking the elevator down, he pushed open the double doors that led to the morgue, and entered the autopsy room where he put on a face shield and paper apron. Ron was standing by the table with Pete, already wearing the protective gear.

"What do we have here?" Zach asked, putting on latex gloves.

"Just about to start, but I have to tell you, Zach, I've never seen anything like this. Damn, this is morbid—even for me," Pete said, shaking his head.

Ron nodded. "I've been in homicide for ten years,

Zach. I can't believe this one."

"Yeah, let's get on with it," Zach said and took a breath. He hated autopsies as well, but they were a vital part of finding evidence, and at this point he needed all he could get.

The doors opened again as Amy walked in, still out of breath, and all three men looked up. Zach thought she must have run the entire three blocks from her office.

“This is Amy Logan, D.A.'s office,” Zach said and made introductions. “There's an apron and a face shield on the shelf,” he told her and pointed. “Put them on.”

She nodded and when she was wearing the protective gear, she made her way to Zach's side and stood staring wide-eyed at the body on the table.

Pete took photos of the body—the penis in its mouth,

a close-up of the face, and of particular areas like the leather band around the throat. He removed the penis from the mouth, and photographed the teeth. Moving over the body, he photographed the bruises and burn marks on the upper torso, and the ligature marks on the ankles and wrists. The body was on its side because of the baseball bat protruding from the rectum, and he photographed that as well.

"Okay. I'm going to pull this out first, so I can turn the body,” he said at length. “It's not going to be pretty."

Pete grasped the handle of the bat with one hand and placed a gloved hand on the corpse's hip and pulled. The bat didn't budge. He grasped the bat with both hands and twisted it to the right, then braced a hand against the hip again and pulled harder, but it still wouldn't budge.

He looked up at Zach. “Want to give me a hand here?”

Zach blew out a breath and walked around the table while pulling on a second pair of gloves. No, he thought, I definitely do not want to help on this one.

He held the body in place while Pete twisted the bat back and forth a few times and then pulled slowly. It made a loud sucking noise and when the bat finally came out, blood, water, feces, and pieces of intestines gushed out after it, splattering onto Pete and Zach both, and then splashed noisily onto the floor at their feet.

"All righty then," Pete commented, and held up the sawed off bat, looking at Zach, then showed it to Amy and Ron.

Amy made a sound that wasn't quite a scream as she turned and ran to the sink, and heaved her lunch into it.

Zach took a deep breath and shrugged as he looked at Ron and Pete. He went to Amy, pulled paper towels out of the container, wet them and handed them to her, and left the water running in the sink so she could clean herself up.

Want to learn more about Rie or her book? Follow her tour here: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2010/09/virtual-book-tour-closure.html?zx=9b3108614a18cf50

Tantalizing Tuesday

The guest bloggers this month have been working in tandem on something special for all of you! I'm really excited about what is happening and I hope you will be too! On October 31st I'll post what the surprise is and you'll be given a chance to win something fun! So, be sure to return on October 31st and enter the fun...

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Please welcome new to me author, Marissa Farrar! Join Marissa at her blog to keep up-to-date about her current WIP and coming releases. Sit back, relax, grab your favorite drink and enjoy getting to know Marissa!

~~~~~

GRACEN: Do you have a movie that you must watch every Halloween? What's your favorite scary movie? Do you have a favorite scary character or character type?

MARISSA: I am a total horror movie fanatic. I have so many favourite horror movies I hardly know where to start! Hauntings are my favorite type of scary movie, mainly because they are the ones I believe in the most, but I like anything that is intelligent and above-all, scary! Some of my favourites include Pans Labyrinth, Jacob’s Ladder, Silent Hill, and The Changeling (1980). If I have an evening alone with any of these movies, I am happy!


GRACEN: I love horror movies too, Marissa! Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what will you be dressed up as this year? What was your all-time most favorite costume that you ever wore? Why?

MARISSA: I won’t be dressing up this year, but I will be dressing up my two kids and taking them trick or treating. My three-year-old wants to be a witch (and a scary one, she has insisted) and the baby will be the obligatory pumpkin! My own personal favourite costume was back when I was a student. I got some latex rubber and turned one half of my face into this burnt ‘freddy’ look. I then painted one side black and the other white. I looked seriously scary and none of my friends even recognized me!


GRACEN: How cool of a costume, Marissa! Are you superstitious? Do you find yourself knocking on wood or throwing salt over your shoulder? If not one of these two, what is your superstition?

MARISSA: I do knock on wood, though I wouldn’t say I was particularly superstitious. I usually only believe in things if the outcome is going to be a good one – like when a money-spider walks across your palm you are going to get money!


GRACEN: Do you believe in ghosts? If so, have you ever had a ghostly encounter and tell us about it?

MARISSA: I totally believe in ghosts. My grandmother saw spirits all of the time. She would go up to people in the street and tell them that they had a little dog walking beside them and it would be a pet that recently passed. My mother used to take me to medium shows and some of the stuff they came out with was amazing. However, I do have a healthy dose of skepticism as well. I think my belief in scary things helps me to write about scary things.


GRACEN: Tell us 3 funny or strange things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Halloweens?

MARISSA: In the UK we don’t really celebrate Halloween. I often end up sitting, waiting for trick or treaters to turn up, only for no one to arrive and I end up eating a whole box of mini chocolate bars. Any other stories come from my student days and revolve around too much alcohol and doing things I probably shouldn’t, so I think I may have to keep those to myself!


GRACEN: LOL We completely understand, Marissa, but I've got a pretty good naughty imagination to fill in those blank spots… ;-) If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?

MARISSA: I know I am not going to be very original here, but it would have to be a vampire. There is something about the sex appeal that I have loved since I was a teenager.


GRACEN: Ditto here, Marissa. Vampire for me too and an obsession since middle school. Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy, but e-pirates are not. How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

MARISSA: Unfortunately piracy is a reality of our time. However, people have often shared real books as well. I know I’ve often borrowed a book off of a friend without considering it piracy. At the moment I just want to increase my name and profile. Of course I would much rather someone bought a book, but I would rather gain a reader by someone sharing.
All I would say to anyone copying files is please remember, writers need to eat too!


GRACEN: Now, let’s get to your writing, Marissa…Why the paranormal genre? What was the draw for you?

MARISSA: I’ve always been obsessed with the paranormal, ever since I was a small child. I grew up reading Stephen King, Dean Koontz and James Herbert. I’ve never wanted to write anything else.


GRACEN: Love me some King as well! The Shining my all-time favorite book. If you could describe your paranormal writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and look beyond words like vampire, werewolf, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

MARISSA: Threads of reality, brutality and darkness, all woven together by romance.


GRACEN: Oooo…intriguing! Do you prefer playing tricks on people or bestowing treats? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

MARISSA: Oh, I am much more of a treat-giver. I would hate to do anything to upset somebody in real life! But no, this definitely doesn’t show in my writing. Maybe the horrible side of me comes out in my work, so I can still be lovely to the people around me!


GRACEN: Who decides what creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one stirring the cauldron?

MARISSA: I’m afraid I don’t have, or even believe in, a muse. In the past I’ve wondered if they are like some kind of writing fairy who delivers amazing pieces of writing to other writers while they’re not looking! They sound like a handy thing to have, but the only one who decides what I write about is me.


GRACEN: What was the creature/paranormal character that you had the most fun creating and why? Who—to you—was the sexiest character you wrote and why?

MARISSA: The most fun was Madeline – my designer handbag loving, total bitch of a vampire in Alone. But the sexiest character is definitely in a short story I have recently written for a girl-on-girl vampire anthology. Her name is Nadine and she is a stripper-turned-vampire. I’ve yet to find out if the short story has been accepted, but boy, it was hot!


GRACEN: If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

MARISSA: I would never want to meet Jackson, the abusive husband in my first novel, Alone. Even more so, I would hate to meet him in Alone’s sequel, Buried Alone (hopefully released early 2011). Let’s just say Jackson comes back, and he is seriously pissed.
The person I would most like to meet is Josh, my anti-hero in my new novel, The Dark Road. He’s a bit of a bad-guy-turned-good. He is strong and sexy, and a natural leader, but he has his flaws as well. He is definitely the sort of man I would like to know.


GRACEN: Thanks so much for joining us, Marissa! It's been fun getting to know you! Now to learn more about her books…

Dark Road Blurb:

When a group of travellers are thrown together on a bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia, they have no idea of the journey ahead of them.

Shortly after crossing the Cambodian border, one of their party disappears off of the side of the road. The group quickly learns they have more than just the terrible roads and threat of landmines to worry about.

One by one they start to lose both their minds and their lives, as what was supposed to be a holiday turns into a terrifying fight for survival.

Dark Road Excerpt:

‘Beams of torchlight swung across the sodden landscape. The clouds were low in the sky, a thick blanket that insulated the moon from the earth. The darkness was so absolute it was like a living, breathing thing, sucking in the pathetic beams of light as if it were feeding on them. Even their voices seemed wrong and unnatural in this world.

Sasha couldn’t shake the feeling that they should have been keeping quiet and hiding instead of marking out their positions and vulnerability with noises and lights. It was irrational and stupid but she couldn’t pretend the cold shivers that clawed their way up her spine were not there. She was glad of Josh’s proximity and wondered how well she would be coping right now if he had not got on the bus and she had not met him.

As if hearing her thoughts, Josh turned and caught her eye. A gentle smile caught her heart and she turned away, flustered and confused.

Sasha opened her mouth to call Vicki’s name again, when a sudden movement in the beam of her flashlight caused the word to catch in her throat. She choked on it like a lump of meat, her breath trapped inside her lungs, slowly burning. Where her airways stopped working, her heart went on overdrive. She could feel blood rushing through her veins, could hear it coursing in her ears, the sound similar to that heard when listening to a seashell. Her body froze in the same position: left foot forward, arm outstretched, torchlight shaking...’




Alone Blurb:


Caught in a violent and abusive relationship, Serenity thinks there is no escape. Then she meets a stranger, Sebastian, who shows her the possibility of a different future.

Only Sebastian has a dark secret; he is a vampire.

As Serenity’s life takes a terrifying turn, Sebastian’s past catches up to them both in the form of Sebastian’s maker, Madeline.

Serenity finds herself drawn into a world she never knew existed; one of murder, love, and immortality. She is forced to confront her own weaknesses to save both her own life and that of the vampire she has come to love. But in the end all that matters is; can she find the strength to be Alone ?

Alone Excerpt:


‘Serenity could feel grass beneath her feet and the air was finally still. The sounds of the city were far behind them. She could smell damp soil, and wet leaves on the night air. She had no idea where they were, but she didn’t dare open her eyes until Sebastian told her to...

He had told her not to look and she didn’t want to, especially not now.

“Open your eyes, Serenity,” he roared, his voice raw. “Look at me. Look at what I am.”

“No!” she cried into her hands. “Stop it, stop it!”

“Look at me, Serenity. If this is what you want you must open your eyes!”

She didn’t want to, she wanted to hide away from it, but he was right; it was something she needed to see.

So she forced herself to her feet and opened her eyes.

Sebastian was standing twenty-feet away from her, bathed in moonlight, a body in his arms.

He looked up at her, his beautiful pale face coated in blood, his green eyes now yellow and glowing in the darkness.

“Look, Serenity,” he shouted into the night. “See who I am! I am a monster!”’


~~~~~

Where to find Marissa: http://www.marissa-farrar.blogspot.com/

SUPERNATURAL SUNDAY

Please welcome Luxie Ryder into the moonlight. Love your name, Luxie. To learn more about Luxie join her at her website where you can learn more about Luxie and her books! Now, to the good stuff…

GRACEN: Do you have a movie that you must watch every Halloween? What's your favorite scary movie? Do you have a favorite scary character or character type?

LUXIE: ‘Halloween’ is always a favorite! Jamie Lee Curtis, the scream queen, can’t be beaten. The soundtrack, the atmosphere and that jerky, handheld camera draws me in every time and even though I know where the scares are; I still jump out of my skin!

My favorite scary characters are from the teen slasher movies I saw when I was younger. I remember seeing a Friday the 13th (part two) and A Nightmare on Elm Street double bill at the movies on time, and being absolutely terrified! Jason and Freddie haunted me for days afterwards. You never get over your first fright night!


GRACEN: Do you dress up for Halloween? If so, what will you be dressed up as this year? What was your all-time most favorite costume that you ever wore? Why?

LUXIE: I have dressed up for Halloween and I loved it! I had this fabulous vampy dress one year in black velvet with a jagged hem and a blood red collar. I won’t be dressing up this year (as far as I know – no invites have surfaced yet) but I would love to.


GRACEN: Oh, that sounds like an awesome costume! Are you superstitious? Do you find yourself knocking on wood or throwing salt over your shoulder? If not one of these two, what is your superstition?

LUXIE: I do knock on wood and throw salt over my shoulder. I love the folklore surrounding superstitions – such as the one where you have to smash your empty eggshells or else witches will go to sea in them and sink ships – but I don’t practice any except the ones I mentioned.


GRACEN: Interesting folklore about empty eggshells. Never heard of it before and now I'm wondering how many ships I'm responsible for sinking! ;-) Do you believe in ghosts? If so, have you ever had a ghostly encounter and tell us about it?

LUXIE: No, I don’t believe in ghosts but I DO believe in the power of the human mind and its ability to convince you that you are seeing something that isn’t there! In some ways, I find that a little more terrifying!


GRACEN: Tell us 3 funny or strange things that happened to you, or someone you know, on past Halloweens?

LUXIE: Well the first story comes from my teens and that Horror Double Bill a friend and I watched at the cinema. We were cowering in our seats, clutching on to each other…when someone slammed the exit door at the back of the room! I am not exaggerating when I say that the staff almost had to scrape me and Anna off the ceiling. We screamed SO loudly that everyone in the cinema was in hysterics.

Another scary movie moment (I’m such a sucker for them) was when hubby and I saw Final Destination. Again, the bit with Tara Reid and the Greyhound bus had me jumping out of my skin! That time, I lurched so far back in my seat, that I banged my head off the knee cap of the girl behind me! Painful and embarrassing.

My favorite Halloween ever was the year I went to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show live at my local theater. The girls and I all wore corsets and torn stockings and gothic make up to the show – as did everyone else, guys included. What a fun, funny night!


GRACEN: LOL Thanks for sharing these! If you could be any paranormal creature, what would it be and why?

LUXIE: I’d like to be a vampire, but only for a short time. I wouldn’t be able to kill anyone but I’d love to know what it felt like to be that sexy and powerful.


GRACEN: Swashbuckling pirates like Johnny Depp are sexy, but e-pirates are not. How do you handle e-pirates in your writing world? Do you have any advice or wish to share any experience with other writers? Anything you wish to say to e-pirates in general?

LUXIE: e-pirates are thieves. There is no other word for them. I almost feel that the term ‘pirates’ minimizes what they do, but I accept that it’s as good a word as any. New technology is developing all the time and, just as those who stole music suddenly found themselves with a multi-million dollar lawsuit on their hands, so will e-pirates one day.


GRACEN: That lawsuit can't come soon enough in my opinion! Now, let’s get to your writing, Luxie…Why the paranormal genre? What was the draw for you?

LUXIE: I love the paranormal genre for many reasons. I like that you can create new worlds, characters and circumstances and let your imagination take free reign. Paranormal romance, specifically, provides the opportunity to write some amazingly sexy scenes and situations.


GRACEN: If you could describe your paranormal writing with a word or phrase, what would it be? Please be creative and look beyond words like vampire, werewolf, etc., and delve into the core of your writing to tell us what word or phrase you want readers to take with them when they've finished reading your story.

LUXIE: I like to think I tell realistic tales of ordinary people who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances.


GRACEN: Do you prefer playing tricks on people or bestowing treats? Does that show through in your writing? If so, how?

LUXIE: What an interesting question! You’ve made me realize that I like terrorizing my characters! But there is always a treat at the end.


GRACEN: LOL I love dishing out terror on my characters too! *Mwhahahahah* Who decides what creatures you write about, you or your muse? What kind of influence do you have over your story, or is the muse always the one stirring the cauldron?

LUXIE: I decide and I keep my muse in check! My muse is a dark, naughty little madam and I often have to rein her in because I am not sure people want to read some of the stuff she comes up with!


GRACEN: What was the creature/paranormal character that you had the most fun creating and why? Who—to you—was the sexiest character you wrote and why?

LUXIE: Well of course, Ethan Butler is by far the sexiest character I have shared with the readers in one of my paranormal novels. When we meet him, he is already a huge, handsome hunk of a man and then he is turned into a vampire! Irresistible!

I had the most fun creating Mama Susu from my novel Mama’s Charm. She is a voodoo priestess from Haiti and nobody knows how old she is, save to say she is ancient. She is a little bit naughty and the locals are terrified of her but she has a soft spot for the heroine Martine. The old girl still has an eye for the fellas - as our rugged hero Wade finds out when he wakes up naked on her kitchen table. Great fun!


GRACEN: Ooo…Mama Susu sounds like a fun gal! If you had the opportunity to meet just one of your characters in real life, who would it be and why? Which of your characters would you never want to meet under any circumstance and why?

LUXIE: I’d love to meet Ethan from Sacrifice or Wade from Mama’s Charm. They are both inspired by men I go weak at the knees for in real life. They are tall, strong, ruggedly handsome (no pretty boys here please) who will do anything to save the woman they love.

The character/s I wouldn’t like to meet are Clairvius Douyon - the evil bokor from Mama’s Charm. He’s a nasty little man who isn’t as powerful as Mama Susu but still causes major problems for the hero and heroine – and Silas from my novel Sacrifice. He’s the head of a local nest of vampires that control New Orleans by catering to the peccadilloes of the city’s politicians.

GRACEN: Thanks so much for joining us in the moonlight, Luxie! All the best of success with your books!

~~~~~

http://www.evernightpublishing.com/luxie-ryder.html - buy link

Blurb:

All Hallie Matheson wants is someone to rent her apartment. What she gets is the handsome and wealthy, Ethan Butler. They hit it off instantly and Hallie thinks she has found a lifelong friend, until she tries to explore the sexual tension between them. Ethan rejects her and then avoids her for months, leaving Hallie confused and hurt.

Until one fateful night she finds Ethan collapsed and near death on her door-step.

Ethan has spent the last few years investigating vampires, until a sudden attack ends his mortal life. Now, he has even more reason to avoid Hallie, despite his desire to have her. Her continuous presence sparks a desperate hunger within him he can no longer control. No sooner has their affair begun when his worst fears are realized.

Desperate to do anything to keep her alive, Ethan vows to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Excerpt:

Hallie had wiped away her tears by the time he cracked open the door, but he could still see the tracks on her face and the redness around her pretty green eyes. She’d lost a few pounds in the last couple of weeks, evident from the way the sweat pants that used to hug her lovely curves now hung loosely from her hips. Another thing he felt responsible for.

“H…hi,” she said, her voice still husky from crying. “Can I come in?”

Ethan wanted to tell her to stay away, but as he struggled to find the right words without causing her more pain, his delay in answering clearly upset her. Her beautiful green eyes sparkled with unshed tears. It physically pained him knowing he was the cause of her sorrow.

He moved out of the doorway, gesturing for her to enter, and took a last deep breath of air before her scent and taste assaulted his senses.

“Thanks.” Hallie took a seat, perching on the edge of the very sofa where he’d almost ended her life. Ethan didn’t join her. Instead, he remained standing, watching her silently. The highly sensitive awareness coursing through his body warned him she was more than a little angry. She was livid.

“Now I can see you’re perfectly okay. Do you mind telling me why the hell you’ve been so mean to me? I took care of you, only to find you had disappeared in the middle of the night, and I haven’t laid eyes on you since.” She stood up abruptly and moved towards him, her finger jabbing at his face. “The least you could do is thank me for helping your sorry ass!”

Ethan took a step back, unsure if he could handle it should she touch him. “I sent you some flowers. Didn’t you get—”

“Yes, I got them.” She sighed and the anger drained from her face. “But that’s hardly the same as seeing with my own eyes that you were alive. Ethan, I truly thought you were dying.”

“I’m sorry, really I am. But as you can see, I’m fine.”

He moved a little closer to the door, his hand extended as if to grab the knob. Any hopes that she’d accept his flippant answer and leave him to his misery were dashed when she walked back to the sofa and sat down again.

“Are you going to tell me what happened?”

“Why?”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her tired eyes. “Besides the fact you owe me an explanation, I’m a lone woman living in a house with a man I don’t really know as well as I thought I did. If you have drug or alcohol problems—”

Ethan swallowed his offense at her words. “I don’t drink, and as for drugs, do I look like an addict to you?”

Hallie shook her head, a shy smile lighting her features. “Not really. You do look well, though. Amazingly so, considering how bad you looked two weeks ago…” Her voice drifted off and she seemed to lose her train of thought as her gaze crawled over him slowly. Ethan tensed and turned away.

“So, what happened?” she asked, the weariness back in her tone.

“I don’t know the details.” That much wasn’t a lie at least. “I was researching a story at this club and the last thing I remember is a young Creole woman—”

Hallie cast her gaze downward. “Did you…you know…with her?”

“Have sex with her? No.”

The blush crawling over Hallie’s cheeks almost made him growl. He didn’t need to be reminded that her warm, sweet blood lay mere millimeters below the surface of her skin.

“So what did she do to you?”

He shrugged, feigning ignorance. “I can only guess what happened but it doesn’t matter now anyway. As you can see, there’s no lasting damage.” Hallie fell silent. If he was very lucky, she’d let it drop. But since when had he ever been lucky?

“I’m sorry Ethan, but that’s bullshit. You’re a reporter for God’s sake. Do you really expect me to believe you didn’t try to find out what she did to you?”

“Like I said, it doesn’t matter—”

“Like hell it doesn’t! All kinds of shady stuff goes down in New Orleans. How do you know she didn’t poison you? DocFletcher said—”

“Whatever he said was wrong.”

“So you do know what it is.” Hallie got to her feet and closed in on him, her voice a gentle plea. “Tell me.”

She reached out to grip his t-shirt but he stopped her, wrapping a hand around each of her wrists and held her away. Hallie gasped from the contact, obviously shocked at how cold he felt. For him, her skin almost burned his palms as her heat radiated through his flesh.

“Please, I need to know,” she whispered.

“It would only frighten you.”

Ethan dropped his gaze, unable to look into her eyes while they silently begged him to open up to her. Instead, he gazed at her trembling lips, groaning when the sight of them caused a hard jolt of desire to course through him. Ethan let go of her and tried to move away but he stopped, frozen with dread when her fingertips caressed his cheek.

Ethan felt her heart thud with frenzy and she sucked in shallow, rasping breaths. He stared at her face, then her sensuous lips slightly parted as she tilted her head back, telling him without words she wanted to be kissed. Ethan drank the sight of her in, promising himself this was all he would take…but then he caught another aroma…one he couldn’t resist.

Hallie’s arousal perfumed the air, assaulting his senses without warning. The tiny amount of restraint Ethan had left, snapped, replaced by the hungry entity within him. He couldn’t control himself any longer, not when the intoxicating woman tormented his basic desires. He reached out and cupped her jaw, lifting her chin as his mouth descended.

Hallie sank into him, moaning softly when his lips slid across hers. Her hands brushed his hair and she tugged, trying to pull him closer, her body pressed against his. Her warm, soft flesh burned into him, even through his t-shirt, and he craved more of her heat. Ethan wrapped his arms around her back and trapped her against his torso, thrusting his groin into hers in response to the way she writhed against his erection.

He only intended to give her a little of what she asked for while taking a taste for himself, but he was unprepared for the spike of lust spearing through him when her tongue slid boldly into his mouth. An image of her, naked and writhing beneath him, leapt into his mind and he knew he no longer had the strength to stop.

Hallie pulled away first, her breath ragged as she released a throaty, self conscious laugh…but when she looked up at him, a hair-raising scream tumbled from her lips, as she stared in horror at his mouth.

Ethan brought his hands to his lips, wiping them quickly to check for her blood. He wiped again and winced as something sharp pierced the back of his knuckles.

Fangs. He’d forgotten about the fangs.

_________________________________________________________________________________



http://www.bookstrand.com/mamas-charm - buy link



Blurb:

Martine's tarot cards didn't warn of the handsome stranger about to walk into her life. Wade didn't want to fall for the sexy gypsy causing havoc in his. Neither knew of the magic that brought them together or the evil that threatens to tear them apart.

Mama Susu has watched over Martine for years and believes Wade can give her the love she craves. After using her powerful magic to bring them together, she prepares to do battle with Clairvius - the bokor obsessed with Martine and determined to end Wade's life.

Voodoo and betrayal in the heart of New Orleans. Can their love be saved by Mama's Charm?


Excerpt:

Did he know me? I squirmed a little under his intense scrutiny, sure he had never been a client. I wouldn’t have forgotten him—if only for his looks if not his strange mannerisms. Still, something lurked behind his gaze that unnerved me. If I didn’t know better, I would swear he didn’t like me much. I’d be happier when the session was over. Going through my usual routine, I gave my name.

He repeated it, making it sound dirty somehow. ‘Martine. Is that Creole?’

I nodded, uncomfortable with the slant he put on the words. Deciding to ignore it, I continued. ‘Usually, people tell me what they want to know, and we see where the cards take us, ok?’

He shuffled in his seat before fixing me with a look. Again, I knew he wouldn’t be entirely truthful, but it was his money, and if he wanted to waste it, it made no difference to me. ‘I think my wife is seeing someone.’ His voice had trailed off as he finished speaking, sounding rougher, tinged with something that sounded like sadness, but could have been anger.

I got up and lit some candles—a blue one for him, to bring peace and happiness and a black one for me, to absorb the negative energy I could feel coming from him. I wasn’t exactly nervous but couldn’t shake the edgy feeling I had about the guy.

Flicking a quick glance over my shoulder, I found his eyes on my ass. Turning back to him as I cleared my throat, his perusal continued, inching slowly up my body, finally reaching my face. Any hope I had of seeing contrition or embarrassment at his being caught mentally undressing me was chased away by the slight smirk he gave before dropping his gaze.

His story wasn’t ringing true but the natural intuition I always relied on failed me. All I knew for sure was that a man, concerned about a cheating wife, didn’t come to a tarot card reader and look at her in the way he had just looked at me.

I settled in my seat, determined to get the reading over with as quickly as possible. Lifting the damp hair from my neck once again, I felt the fabric of my dress strain across my breasts and knew without needing to check that he would have noticed. Appallingly, my nipples hardened at the thought and I abruptly dropped my arms, cursing my own stupidity. Eyes averted, I spent a few moments shuffling the deck while telling him to concentrate on what he wanted to know. Offering him the cards, I told him to split them as he asked the question out loud. Nothing happened.

Having no choice but to look at him again, my breath caught at the change in his expression. The cold, dark eyes that had first greeted me now seemed larger and much warmer. The hard line of his mouth had relaxed and he looked slightly flushed. His delay in answering had been intentional. He’d wanted me to look at him.

I could feel myself blushing under his stare, feeling totally out of my depth. I didn’t know what he wanted or why he affected me this way. And he knew he affected me. His posture had relaxed and the hands that had been rigid on the table now smoothed down over his thighs as he kept his eyes on me all the while.

I felt a trickle of sweat start to roll down the side of my neck. Needing to wipe it away, I didn’t move, afraid again of making him look at my body but more afraid of how I would react when, not if, he did. I felt it slip slowly downwards onto my collarbone, pooling there for a second before it continued, as I knew it would, down my chest and under the neckline of my dress.

His voice made me jump. ‘It’s sure hot in here. Do you mind if I take off my over-shirt?’

His gaze riveted to the spot where the trail of sweat had disappeared inside my clothing, making it clear he had been following its path. I shook my head at his question, trying without success to refocus my attention on the cards.

My eyes were drawn back to him as the grubby v-neck t-shirt stretched taut across his chest. He shrugged off the shirt to reveal sweaty, heavily muscled arms that rippled as he moved, causing my breath to catch in my throat. His musky scent reached my nostrils and wasn’t entirely unpleasant, but it was entirely male. An ache began between my legs and I willed myself to ignore it. Sure, he was one hell of a man but that didn’t explain my reaction to him. Maybe the sexual drought of the past year caused me to squirm in my seat at the nearness of a good-looking guy? Whatever it was, I wished it would stop.

‘Should I cut them now?’ I only realized that I had been staring at him dumbly when his voice broke through my trance. I nodded, grateful for the distraction of the cards as I held them out to him. Placing a large hand under mine to steady it, he cut the deck. My skin burned where he touched me but I refused to analyze it, concentrating instead on the small amount of cards he had chosen. Men were quite anal about such things and often struggled to cut them exactly in half, like it mattered.

I found my voice. ‘You didn’t ask the question.’



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